Chapter 10
Chapter
Ten
I f Cadeyrn did not soon get to lie with his mate, he might just go mad.
He soared above the heights, peering down to make sure all was well with both the village and the clutch in the upper regions.
His mind was not on his work, and it should be. But truly, just in the last few days, he felt as if his need for Poe had increased tenfold. All he wanted to do was throw his mate down and take him.
Hard. For at least two days. Maybe more.
Poe wasn’t even overtly sexual with him. He was just…amazing. And Cade wanted him.
Now.
He shook his head, then tilted his wings so he banked to one side, sliding down into the river valley. He thought he had seen someone at the riverside. And it was quite late.
There was a dark figure standing by the edge of the water, a cloud-pale face shrouded by a cape and a mass of raven’s wing hair. It was no one he recognized, and he pushed out a little thought toward whoever it was. Do you need help? Are you well?
Not only did he get no answer, but it was as if he was thinking into a void, into pure darkness, emptiness. How odd.
A pale hand appeared out from the inky cloak, and then disappeared again, a rush of magic seeming to still the river itself, and the figure bent over, leaning toward the still water.
That bothered him, so Cade landed, making himself as large as possible. “What business have you here?” he demanded.
The figure stepped back, seeming to shrink. “I’m sorry; I just stopped to have a drink, to wash the dust of the road from my face, and rest a moment.”
The stranger pushed his hood back, his cloak, and a wizened old man appearing, deep wrinkles carved into the apple flesh of his face, silvery hair wisping around his face.
Cadeyrn tilted his head. This hadn’t been a curved-over old man before, had it?
He stared into the pure black eyes, refusing to look away. “Where do you come from?”
“Oh, here and there. I’m a traveling bard, you know?” The man reached into his cloak, pulling out a small harp. “This is the farthest west I’ve gone. I wasn’t sure if there was an inn in the village, so I thought I’d just stop here and collect myself.”
“There isn’t. There’s a tavern. Sometimes the owner has a room, sometimes she doesn’t.” Cadeyrn didn’t like this at all. Something was strange.
“Well, I have to see if I can play for my room and board. I can tell stories from all over Lunastra, and I have learned a multitude of songs. Would you like to hear one now?”
“No.” Lightning crackled in the sky, threatening a tad. “Do not touch the harp, stranger.”
The bard nodded and smiled at him, the surprisingly white teeth gleaming. “Of course not, guardian. You have to protect your territory. Perhaps I should move on.”
Cadeyrn thought that was an excellent idea.
“Who lives up the mountain, then?” The bard pointed up toward the lights where his mate was, where little Tanya played with the other children.
“No one. It’s not a village; it’s a private home.” And he wasn’t going to allow anyone to trespass there. Beau and Hawk wouldn’t either.
“I wonder if they’d like some entertainment? I’ve sung in many private residences. They tend to have better food than the standard.” He got a smile that didn’t go all the way to the man’s eyes.
“I very seriously doubt they would. What did you say your name was?”
“Oh, I’m known by many names…”
Cadeyrn’s growl rumbled through the woods, and lightning struck the far side of the riverbed. Beau! Make sure the children are inside. Now.
“Now, now, Guardian. I mean no harm.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
The smile he received was slow, knowing, and deeply disturbing. “Experience? Instinct? There’s simply no way to know.”
“You will not go up the mountain.” Cade put as much alpha suggestion into the command as he could. “Go to the village and ply your trade if you must, but I will be watching you.”
“Of course. There is always someone watching.” Those teeth flashed again.
“What do you want here?” Cade growled.
“Believe it or not, Guardian, the same thing you do.”
“What? I don’t understand?”
“No, it is my most sincere wish that you never do, but I do not believe that is going to be the case.” The old dragon stared at him. “You are here to protect the children, yes?”
“This is my village. I’m its guardian.” He would protect each and every dragon here with his life.
Cade? Cade, do you need me?
No. Stay there. Stay with the children. Allow no one in.
“Keep watch. Strange dragons are coming, and they bring danger to you and your village’s children. Someone here is calling them. They don’t mean to, but they are.”
As the dragon spoke, it seemed to become younger and younger until what was standing before him was this ebony-haired man with eyes like holes staring at him through a face the color of milk. “Believe me. I’m a guardian. My territory is less defined, but a strange dragon is coming, and it means danger to your children. They will steal whoever is calling the Sakir.”
Sakir? What was that? It made no sense.
“Why would any of the children call a Sakir? Why would any of the children call for danger? They are innocents.”
The dragon shook his head. “They don’t even know they’re doing it. They do it because they shine. Like coins, yes? At least this one does.” He got a smile that screamed with an odd pain. “Some sing with an amazing song. Some run like the wind. You’ve been warned, Guardian. I’ll move on, but be aware what I tell you is truth. A strange dragon comes, and when it does, you’ll have to fight it or you will lose children, do you understand?”
Of course he understood. That was clear, if not terrifying. “What is your name?” Cade had to have something to tell the elders beyond ‘I saw a strange dragon by the river’.
He got another one of those odd smiles and a wink. “They know me as Onyx. It is the name I chose myself, and the one I intend to carry. Bright blessings.”
And then somehow without a single hint of wind or ring of magic, the dragon was gone.
Cade blinked, looking around for any telltale swirls of magic. Then he checked the water.
But the one called Onyx was just…gone.
He called to Beau, who was the one who had offered help. I need to come up. We must speak. I will make a round of the village and then be on my way.
I’ll be right here. The kids are all asleep and accounted for.
Thank you, my friend.
He lifted up, gaining altitude, but just enough to do a careful flyover of the village, checking for anything odd. Open doors. Broken windows. Nothing seemed amiss, so he put muscle behind his wings and soared, heading for the upper clutch’s homes.
Gavin and Beau met him outside, along with his mate.
Poe grabbed his arm. “What’s the matter? I can tell something’s wrong.”
“There was a stranger at the river. He called himself a bard, but I do not think he was. He was like your Cullen. He could hide himself in an illusion.”
They all glanced at each other, then fixed their attention back on him. “And he worried you,” Gavin said. It was a statement, not a question.
“He was enough to give me chills, but that was not what disturbed me the most.”
Poe blinked. “What happened?”
“He gave me a warning. Said that someone was going to come for the children. That one of the children was a beacon that would bring…something called the Sakir.”
“What the heck is that?” Gavin snapped.
“I do not know. I will ask my father if he has heard of such a thing, since he is a historian, but I do not have any real idea. He seemed to think it was bad.”
“We can ask the bookworms, as well,” Gavin said. “Some of our number have read every dragon lore book there is.”
“Thank you.” Cade rubbed at Poe’s knuckles.
You’re really worried.
I am . Cade told him. The dragon at the river just…disappeared. Even more concerning, he seemed to think whatever this entity would come for was up here.
Oh no! You don’t think it’s Tanya?
I don’t know. Cade chewed his lower lip. I am more inclined to think it is Penny.
“Cade?”
“I am sorry, Beau. I was answering Poe, and I missed that.”
“I asked if you would be willing to go up and meet with Hawk, despite the hour. He is the oldest of us all, and he might have some thoughts.” Gavin stared at him, unblinking.
“Of course.”
“I’ll come with you,” Poe said. “Tanya is with Arielle. I bet no one will touch them with Arielle on guard.”
“I imagine you’re right. Arielle would toast them.”
“And Tanya would do something equally brave. She’s really coming into her own here.” They all walked out together.
“I’ll stay here to be on guard with Zeke and Samuel,” Beau said. “The bears are also on watch.”
“Thank you, Beau.” Cade knew that they had things well in hand, so he shifted once more and took off toward the house where Poe and Tanya had come through from the other world.
There was, apparently, a place that the brothers and Hawk had built where the other dragons could meet with them without attempting to go into the big house. Who knew what would happen if someone tried to do that.
Gavin knocked at the house door, and he vaguely heard Gavin calling for Hawk in his head, as if it was an echo from far away.
Cadeyrn did not approve, not in the least. What if? What if this portal here was a danger? What if it allowed bad things through? What if they needed to close it?
Hawk came to the door, frowning deep, wearing an apron and carrying a wooden spoon. “I was making cookies. What’s wrong?”
“I saw someone at the river—an illusionist like Cullen, I think. He told me that someone is coming to take the children.” It was the short and dirty version, but it was the truth. “Someone new.”
Poe shook his head. “What if he was talking about me? I’m not going to hurt anyone. I promise, but what if I draw those bloodsuckers to the village? What if they know they’d got to me?”
“Mate.” Cadeyrn knew better. Poe would defend the babies to the end of the earth. “I can see your heart. You have not been ‘gotten’ by anything.” He wasn’t worried about Poe bringing anything in. He knew better.
His mate was good; he felt it in his soul.
“Have you heard of the Sakir, Hawk? That was who the bard warned me of.”
Hawk frowned, his head tilting and his eyes closing. The rush of magick as the old dragon reached back in his memory rang like a bell. “I remember this, I think. It was like the boogeyman, I believe, a story to scare the children from being too vain and misusing their magic. If your magick was too big, uncontrolled, the Sakir would come in the night and take you. And they would feed you to some…some machine? Or a monster? I don’t remember really. It’s been eons. Maybe I’m not even right, but that’s my instinct. That it’s like a fairy tale. A morality play.”
“Well, that’s not good.”
Poe’s words surprised him. “What? A child’s tale would mean that perhaps the bard was simply…caught in his cups or he’d lost the thread of what was real and what was not?”
Cade thought it would be easy, honestly, for an illusionist to disappear into fantasy.
Poe shook his head. “Maybe, but I was talking to Ollie and Myk and Devon. Did you know that was one of their big issues? Myk thought that all the stories about the veil were children’s fairy tales, something to be ignored, and he convinced Ollie and Devon not to worry about them when they were doing all their research, and look where we are now. Myk just didn’t believe any of it. Sure, some of it was wrong and weird, but that’s history, right? Like a game of telephone.”
“Pardon?” He’d followed up to the end part.
“History—like oral histories or even written histories, really. Things just trickle down. I say the apple is green like a grape and a hundred years from now, the story is the grape was the size of an apple. There was a grape. There was an apple. But the story’s not right.”
History was tricky. They all knew that. “Well, I’ll talk to my father, but they say something’s coming and this is one direction that it can come through that I can’t control. So I worry.”
Hawk nodded like he was absolutely sure. “Controlling access I can do, but I’ve never heard of the Sakir on this side, so?—”
“We’ll just have to be on guard for anything. Not let the children run off like Penny did,” Gavin put in.
“Penny.” Poe’s face lost all its color. “You don’t think it’s her, do you? The lady in the grove said she was special. Oh, goddess…”
Cade put a hand on Poe’s shoulder. “We’ll figure it out, love.” Hawk was a powerful dragon, and he did believe that Hawk could control the portal if anyone could.
But he would still enlist Beau to not only fly patrols but to encourage his other alphas to do the same. And he would let the elders know what the bard had said.
He took Poe’s hand, squeezing. He needed to just…touch his mate.
I was so hoping to see you tonight, mate, but not for bad news, not for scary reasons.
I wanted to see you too. Poe squeezed his hand. But I knew you had to be on guard tonight.
I did. I—Do you think Beau would take the next round? He had no right to ask, but he had this burning need to be with his mate.
If he won’t, then Gavin will. Poe stared at him. Someone else needs to, Cadeyrn. I need to hold my mate. I need to be with you, you know? I want—do you get me?
I do. Cade looked at Gavin, who was chatting with Hawk. “My friend, are you willing to fly tonight? I—My mate and I…”
Gavin chuckled. “I understand. I would be happy to finish the night patrol, Cadeyrn.”
“Thank you. Come, Poe.”
Poe didn’t even ask where they were going, and Cadeyrn felt his spine lengthening. His sweet mate. He was so trusting. So wonderful. And Cade wanted him. Wanted to hold him, kiss him, love him.
He took Poe down to where their new house was forming itself. There were rooms now that were in the dry. They could be safe in them.
“Tanya’s safe. You’re here.” Poe began to strip, baring the pale skin without the slightest hint of shame.
It was beautiful.
Poe was beautiful.
“I am. And I want you.” He watched, entranced, as Poe shed the rest of his clothing. He felt rooted in place. Staring.
“Am I—I know I’m not very large, but?—”
“Perfect.” He stepped forward, one hand reached out to touch that fine skin. “Absolutely perfect.”
Poe beamed at him. “Now you.”
“Not yet.” He pulled Poe to him for a kiss that sent little bolts of lightning into the air around them.
Poe chuckled, wrapping around him, fingers pushing and tugging at his clothes, hunting his skin.
He allowed Poe to help him disrobe, and he stood before his mate finally, naked and hard, preening a bit when Poe caught his breath at the sight of him.
“Oh, Cade. You’re amazing. So alpha.”
He laughed, his scales popping up all over him like silver-and-gold armor, but not hardening like they would in his dragon form.
“I need to polish you. The clutch has a heated sandpit, did you know?”
His eyes opened wide. “No. We should go there soon.”
“But not tonight.” Poe chuckled. “Tonight, I want you alone.” He took Cade’s cock in hand and stroked it, making him rise up on his tiptoes.
Cade pulled Poe in for a kiss, wishing his bed was here so they could make love in it.
“Cade?” Poe blinked past him when they parted for air. “A bed just appeared behind you.”
“Did it?” He looked over his shoulder. “Excellent. I wanted it here for us.”
“You called your bed to you?” Poe was laughing madly.
“I suppose I did. Magic happens on occasion. Wild magic.” He winked, but he tugged Poe to his bed, which was deliciously warm from being in his rooms, where there was a roaring fire no doubt. He should have taken Poe there, he supposed, but this first time being at their home was irresistible.
He pressed Poe down on the bed, and then he crawled in on top of him, and both of them moaned as all of their flesh rubbed together, his cock kissing Poe’s, his mate’s legs wrapping around him.
So sweet and perfect.
“Cade. Yes. Kiss me again.”
He nodded, and his mouth met Poe’s, his tongue pushing inside that hot mouth to taste. He ran his fingers over Poe’s arm, his hip, and down his leg. Then he slid it around under Poe’s bottom, his fingers sliding to test Poe’s readiness. That sweet hole was so hot and wet for him, and all he could do was groan and push a finger inside Poe’s body.
“Damn. Cade.” Poe gasped for air when they broke the kiss. “So good. Are you going to knot me?”
“Yes.” He could feel it. His knot. Rising hard. He’d never felt that before, not this way. This was for his mate alone.
“Oh, goddess. Thank you.” Poe laughed, the sound one of pure joy. “I need you so much.”
“And I need to give you everything I am.” Cade nuzzled Poe’s amazing hair. “You’re so beautiful, mate. So amazing. I love you.”
“I love you too.” Poe wrapped both arms around his neck and held on so tight, pulling them together hard. “I want you in me.”
“Now?” Poe was wet, but he might need some stretching.
“Trust me. I can take you. I was made for you, love. Just you.” Poe stared into his eyes, gaze steady.
So he trusted his mate, setting the head of his cock to Poe’s hole. He thrust gently, sliding partway in, and Poe opened right up to take him. So he gave Poe the rest.
Poe took him, lips parted, the sweet body glowing and moving underneath him, sliding on his prick and making his eyes roll. So hot and slick. Such a perfect fit.
Cade moved, driving his hips down and forward, thrusting hard enough for Poe to really feel him. He could do this forever, but his knot told him that was a lie. It was going to be fast, this first time.
“Harder,” Poe demanded. “I’m so close. It’s been so long…”
“Forever,” Cadeyrn agreed.
It had never been like this before, he knew, and now that they had found one another, they would soar together, fly again and again.
But for now, he gave Poe what he demanded, slamming into him, his knot swelling, his breath coming in short pants as he struggled to stay with Poe and let him find his pleasure first. Lightning ran up his spine, his body too hot, too aroused.
“Touch me.” Poe grabbed one of his hands, putting on the hard, needy cock, and he instinctively tugged at it, pulling hard. Yes! Yes, mate. Please.
Anything, mate. Anything. He stroked and thrust and finally Poe arched beneath him, crying out as he came, his body clamping down on Cade.
Which was when his knot fully engaged, lodging in his mate, his whole self merging with Poe, their mate bond cemented in that very moment.
He felt it in his soul.
And the way that Poe held him, the light of his magic filling Cade’s heart, his mate felt the same way.